Utility bag carrier

ABSTRACT

A utility bag carrier used, for example, in hunting includes a belt that extends around a person&#39;s waist, and shoulder straps connected to the rear of the belt. Pouches for storing items are positioned on the left and right sides of the person for convenient access to the items. The pouches are each joined to the belt using a sleeve that permits each pouch to slide along the belt. Each pouch is supported by one of the shoulder straps to assist in bearing the load of items stored in the pouch.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure generally relates to utility or sports bag carriers, and more particularly to a utility or sports bag carrier worn by a person and having shoulder straps and one or more pouches for carrying items.

2. General Background

Utility bag carriers are used to carry items on a person for convenient access in many occupational and sports pursuits. One area in which carriers are used is hunting, such as for carrying ammunition and game (e.g., birds) obtained during a successful hunting outing.

Comfort when wearing a utility bag carrier is important to hunting enthusiasts. Many existing carriers simply use a belt with suspended bags for carrying items. Ammunition storage in a bag of the carrier becomes important when the user of the firearm needs to conveniently access extra ammunition once the ammunition held by a firearm is completely discharged. However, because ammunition such as shot gun shells is relatively heavy, its weight uncomfortably pulls down on the belt.

Other existing carriers use a vest-like structure having garment material that covers a large portion of the upper torso of the wearer. These carriers tend to make the wearer uncomfortably hot and/or constrict body motion.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved utility bag carrier that can be comfortably used to carry ammunition, game, or other items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a person wearing a utility bag carrier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of the person and utility bag carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the utility bag carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a more detailed perspective view of a pouch of the utility bag carrier of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view as indicated in FIG. 1.

The exemplification set out herein illustrates particular embodiments, and such exemplification is not intended to be construed as limiting in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description and the drawings illustrate specific embodiments sufficiently to enable those skilled in the art to practice the systems and methods described herein. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, method, and other changes. Examples merely typify possible variations.

The present disclosure describes a utility bag carrier to be worn by a person. The carrier includes a belt that extends around the person's waist, and shoulder straps are connected to the rear of the belt. Pouches for storing items are positioned on the left and right sides of the person for convenient access to any items stored therein. The pouches are each joined to the belt using a sleeve that permits each pouch to slide along or move relative to the belt. Each pouch is supported by one of the shoulder straps so that the shoulder strap bears much or substantially all of the weight load for items stored in the pouch rather than the belt bearing all of such load. In contrast to its motion relative to the belt, the pouch is substantially fixed in its position in the carrier relative to the end of the shoulder strap that couples to and supports it. The foregoing carrier structure typically increases the comfort of the person wearing the carrier as compared to existing carriers.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a person 100 wearing a utility bag carrier 102 according to an exemplary embodiment. Shoulder strap 104 supports pouch 108 and is connected as part of carrier 102, for example, so that the strap is fixed in a position above and near front vertical edge 112 of pouch 108. In other embodiments, strap 104 may be fixed in a position above the center of pouch 108. Pouch 108 may be, for example, a bag used to store items for work or sports activities. Flap 110 is used to close pouch 108 for keeping items in its interior storage area.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of person 100 and carrier 102. A second pouch 200 is supported by a second shoulder strap 204, and flap 208 is used to close pouch 200. Also, a third rear pouch 202 hangs from belt 106, and flap 206 is used to close pouch 202. Pouches 108 and 200 may hold, for example, ammunition such as shot gun shells. Rear pouch 202 may be designed to hold, for example, game such as downed birds. Shoulder straps 104 and 204 may cross each other on the backside of person 100.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of carrier 102. Shoulder straps 104 and 204 may each include a ring 300 used to adjust the lengths of straps 104 and 204 for persons of various heights. Belt 106 may be fastened about person 100 using a conventional buckle 302. Belt 106 may be designed to ride at various heights, but is typically riding about the same height on person 100 as a belt used for dress pants would be worn.

FIG. 4 illustrates a more detailed perspective view of pouch 108. Shoulder strap 104 may also include a strap loop 402 connected to the main body of strap 104 by coupler 400. Shoulder strap 204 (not shown in FIG. 4) may include a similar strap loop. Strap loop 402 is connected to pouch 108 by a sleeve 404 so that strap 104 provides support for a weight load created by ammunition or other items that may be loaded in pouch 108.

Sleeve 404 may be formed to slide fairly freely along belt 106. Sleeve 404 may, for example, have a length about twice its width. Also, the length of sleeve 404 may be, for example, more than four inches. In other embodiments, sleeve 404 may have various shapes other than as illustrated herein.

Sleeve 404 may be connected to an upper portion of pouch 108, for example, by sewing or the use of grommets (not shown). Flap 110 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) includes a folding portion 408 that may be folded back upon itself (as illustrated in FIG. 4) to be placed in an open position so that flap 110 is held out of the way while, for example, person 100 removes or places items in the interior storage space of pouch 108. An elastic region 410 of pouch 108 may be positioned near the entrance to its interior so that a better closure of pouch 108 is obtained when flap 110 is lowered in a closed position.

Flap 110 may be securely fastened in an open or closed position using a fastener 502 (shown in FIG. 5). Fastener 502 mates with fastener base 406 for holding flap. 110 closed and mates with fastener base 500 (shown in FIG. 5) for holding flap 110 open. Pouch 200 may be configured similarly as described for pouch 108 above.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view as indicated in FIG. 1. Flap 110 is shown in a closed positioned with fastener 502 mated with fastener base 406. Sleeve 404 fits around belt 106. Fastener base 500 may be mounted on sleeve 404. Fastener 502 may be a snap fastener or other type of fastening device.

Carrier 102 may generally be formed, for example, of canvas or other cloth materials or nylon, and its fittings may be formed, for example, of plastic or metal.

By the foregoing disclosure, an improved structure for a utility bag carrier has been described. The foregoing description of specific embodiments reveals the general nature of the disclosure sufficiently that others can modify and/or adapt it for various applications without departing from the generic concept. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. The phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 

1. A utility bag carrier to be worn by a person, comprising: a belt to extend around a person's waist; first and second shoulder straps, each having an end connected to the belt; a first pouch supported by the first shoulder strap, wherein the first pouch is coupled to the belt so that the first pouch may move relative to the belt; and a second pouch supported by the second shoulder strap, wherein the second pouch is coupled to the belt so that the second pouch may move relative to the belt.
 2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the first and second shoulder straps are each connected to a portion of the belt located on the backside of the person.
 3. The carrier of claim 1 wherein: the first shoulder strap is fixed in a position above and near a front vertical edge of the first pouch; and the second shoulder strap is fixed in a position above and near a front vertical edge of the second pouch.
 4. The carrier of claim 1 wherein: the first pouch is coupled to the belt using a first sleeve, fixed to an upper portion of the first pouch, through which the belt may slide; and the second pouch is coupled to the belt using a second sleeve, fixed to an upper portion of the second pouch, through which the belt may slide.
 5. The carrier of claim 4 wherein the length of the sleeve is at least about twice its width.
 6. The carrier of claim 5 wherein the length of the sleeve is more than four inches.
 7. The carrier of claim 4 wherein: the first sleeve is sewn to the upper portion of the first pouch; the second sleeve is sewn to the upper portion of the second pouch; the end of the first shoulder strap connected to the belt is a first end of the first shoulder strap, and a second end of the first shoulder strap is sewn to the first sleeve; and the end of the second shoulder strap connected to the belt is a first end of the second shoulder strap, and a second end of the second shoulder strap is sewn to the second sleeve.
 8. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising a third pouch hanging from a portion of the belt located on the backside of the person.
 9. The carrier of claim 8 wherein substantially the full interior storage area of each of the first and second pouches hangs below the belt.
 10. The carrier of claim 8 wherein the third pouch is configured as a game bag and further comprising a flap to enclose items within the third pouch.
 11. The carrier of claim 4 further comprising a flap to enclose items within the first pouch, wherein the flap comprises a fastener for closing the first pouch when fastened in a first position and for folding back and placing the flap in an open position when fastened in a second position.
 12. The carrier of claim 11 wherein the fastener is a fastening snap.
 13. The carrier of claim 11 wherein: a first fastener base, operable to mate with the fastener at the first position, is positioned on the exterior of the first pouch for holding the flap in a closed position; and a second fastener base, operable to mate with the fastener at the second position, is positioned on the first sleeve for holding the flap in an open position.
 14. A utility bag carrier to be worn by a person, comprising: a belt to extend around a person's waist; first and second shoulder straps, each having an end connected to a portion of the belt located on the backside of the person; a first pouch supported by the first shoulder strap, wherein the first pouch is coupled to the belt using a first sleeve so that the first pouch may slide relative to the belt; a second pouch supported by the second shoulder strap, wherein the second pouch is coupled to the belt using a second sleeve so that the second pouch may slide relative to the belt; and a third pouch hanging from a portion of the belt located on the backside of the person, wherein the position of the third pouch on the belt is fixed.
 15. The carrier of claim 14 further comprising a flap to enclose items within the first pouch, wherein the flap comprises a fastener for closing the first pouch when fastened in a first position and for folding back and placing the flap in an open position when fastened in a second position.
 16. The carrier of claim 15 wherein: a first fastener base, operable to mate with the fastener at the first position, is positioned on the exterior of the first pouch for holding the flap in a closed position; and a second fastener base, operable to mate with the fastener at the second position, is positioned on the first sleeve for holding the flap in an open position.
 17. The carrier of claim 16 wherein substantially the full interior storage area of each of the first and second pouches hangs below the belt. 